Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi / Thriller

Synopsis

British Ministry agent John Steed, under direction from "Mother", investigates a diabolical plot by arch-villain Sir August de Wynter to rule the world with his weather control machine. Steed investigates the beautiful Doctor Mrs. Emma Peel, the only suspect, but simultaneously falls for her and joins forces with her to combat Sir August.

British Ministry agent John Steed, under direction from "Mother", investigates a diabolical plot by arch-villain Sir August de Wynter to rule the world with his weather control machine. Steed investigates the beautiful Doctor Mrs. Emma Peel, the only suspect, but simultaneously falls for her and joins forces with her to combat Sir August.

Tech specs

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Whythorne1 / 10

Not worth weathering

This movie based on the popular British TV series is such a flop it
doesn't really deserve comment, but here are a few nonetheless.

This is the kind of movie making that really has you wonder if you
should ever visit a theater again, when you consider the waste of
millions of dollars on sets, special effects and high-powered actors
that could have been used for such better causes (such as, oh, say a
big-screen version of "My Mother the Car").

At any rate, the film got what it deserved by being universally panned
by critics and bombing at the box office. It was then rushed out of
theaters with the bad-film strategy that relative obscurity would
result in more bread at the video stores.

Considering that Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List, Englsh Patient) and
Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, etc.) were at the top of their box-office
draw potential, and with the addition of the always popular Sean
Connery in a unique role as a villain, one would think that this movie
would have been a sure hit. However, the potential went lightning fast
down the tubes, greased by a stinky script, second-guessed editing and
incompetent direction.

The best elements of the original series, namely, its charm and style,
are absent. A lot of the charm came from the relationship between Steed
and Peel. But Fiennes' Steed is aloof and Thurman's Mrs. Peel is cold
as ice. The two appear to be sleepwalking through their respective
roles, with visions of fat paychecks dancing in their heads.

Ironically, an imprudent element of the TV series that was indicative
of its downhill slide after the departure of Diana Rigg (the original
Mrs. Peel), namely, the introduction of the silly character of
"Mother," IS included in the film. Go figure.

Connery 's performance as a mastermind who can manipulate the world's
weather falls flat. Like Fiennes and Thurman, he appears to be going
through the motions of a script he has no faith in.

Quirky aspects of the original series that were cute and amusing have
been replaced with gimmicks that are just unfunny strange and
head-scratchingly bizarre. For example: the requisite cameo of an actor
from the original series features only the voice of Patrick Macnee in
the role of an invisible man behind a desk. What this character has to
do with anything, other than adding to an already disjointed script, is
anybody's guess.

On a website competently dedicated to the series it has been speculated
that the director never saw a single episode of the TV Avengers. If you
were any kind of fan, you will immediately observe that there is a good
reason to believe this. Jeremiah Chechik's direction seems to lack any
instinct for the flavor of the original series.

At any rate, with this brand of TV series-inspired movie making, you
may find yourself yearning for "Return to Gilligan's Island."
Originally hyped as a summer blockbuster, the cinematic version of "The
Avengers" is only spectacular in its capacity to disappoint.

Reviewed by Nuclearman20133 / 10

Mrs. Peel - You're needed - AGAIN!

Warner Bros. fantasies have always had a certain memorable flare.
Dating back to films like "Superman" and "Blade Runner", a viewer could
always be guaranteed at least a ticket into another world. "The Avengers"
would have been that next "big" thing for Warner Bros. had it not been so
shoddily edited at the last minute.
It should be duly noted, however, that this film had all the signs of
a
thanksgiving turkey: It's release date, which was moved from late June to
the dog days of August. Then the fact that no press screenings have been
allowed for critics. No good can come of these prophecies.

"The Avengers", which, at best, is a second rate version of the
original "Batman" has all the features of your top blockbuster: A Big name
or two, a plethora of explosions, and enough special-effects to put
"Godzilla" to shame. The Plot follows the exploits of the legendary secret
agents John Steed (Ralph Fiennes) and Emma Peel (Uma Thurman), as they do
battle with a maniacal meteorologist (Sean Connery) who has intentions on
controlling the world's weather. Simple enough. Or so one would have
thought. It would appear that some 25 minutes (!) was excised from the
film
as a result of poor test screenings. As history has told, no good comes
from
test screenings. As a result, the film becomes so utterly confusing that
the
viewer would sooner give up, rather than be insulted by a film that
insists
on staying one step ahead of you at all times. Only potentially good films
are butchered in an attempt to make the film more appealing to youngster's
attention spans. But make no mistake about it, this film is certainly not
for children. Perhaps the last half hour will provide enough enjoyable
action (and it does, believe me!) to distract them, but up until then the
film consists of awkward dialogue, inane action (Gigantic teddy bears,
anyone?), and an uncomfortable overdose of strangeness.

The cast, at one time, might have been game, but only once in a while
does Ralph Fiennes even crack a smile. Thurman has apparently got the
English accent down perfectly, but the only problem lies in the fact that
she forgets to give a performance worth remembering. And last, but
certainly
not least, Sean Connery. Sadly, he doesn't even look like he wants to take
over the world. Only once, in a mumbled rant, does he evoke some feelings
of
evil.
That being said, "The Avengers" is a technical masterpiece. Providing
the viewer with a universe of dazzling sets (that should at least be
nominated for an oscar), imaginative visual effects, and beautiful
costumes,
one almost forgets that England doesn't look like this anymore. Unless of
course, you live there. The score, composed by Joel McNeely proves to be
one
of the coolest scores ever produced. Inducing excitement, tension, and a
little smoothness, provided by some nifty jazz notes. All of which the
film
is unable to do itself. For those who won't enjoy this film, it is
mercifully brief. So brief to the point that it's strange. It jumps from a
one hour section of the beginning to a half hour of climactic action that
the viewer blinks and the movie might just be rolling into the credits.
One
can only hope for an improvement with a director's cut. Until then, this
film should gain cult status before it makes it's way to video. Which I'm
sure will be soon.

Out Of Four - **

Reviewed by possum-35 / 10

Not great, but not the horror everyone else describes

Frankly, when THE AVENGERS was released, I wanted it to bomb--I wanted Hollywood to finally get the idea that ripping off old TV shows is IMBECILIC and almost never successful. Thus, I was happy that the movie did poorly and closed quickly. (I also took a trip to London just as the movie was released, and if you think it was ill-received here, the British took it times TEN.)

Ironically, though, it isn't that bad a movie. Not great, but certainly not the despicable mess that most others seem to think.

It's been called ridiculous, slow, talky, surreal. Well, what a shock, so was the original series. I've recently viewed the entire 1967 season (bought all four boxed sets), and the show is all those things at times. It is slow, generally, at a very langorous pace throughout most stories. It is talky, since most of the charm of the original was in the dialogue between characters. It was surreal, even ridiculous (The Winged Avenger, anyone? Eeee-urp.)

Uma Thurman does a passable job as Emma--she's no Diana Rigg, but who is? She plays the character smart enough, although she doesn't quite capture Rigg's regal command of situation. Ralph Fiennes, however, misses the character of Steed quite a bit, playing him as reserved, without any of Steed's charisma. Steed always had a quality about him that made you feel as if he woke up every morning feeling absolutely smashing--Fiennes seems to miss that.

The problem the film faces is twofold: Those of us who have seen the original will always compare the two, and a copy can't hope to compare. Those who haven't seen the series have no grounds to assess it on--(see some of the above user comments which begin 'I never saw the original series...')and since I think this series is not exactly vividly-remembered by the majority of the population (particularly the 18 and under movie-goers, who don't have much grasp of the nuances The Avengers operated on). Frankly, The Avengers was probably just a bad choice to try to remake

(--LIKE ALL OLD TV SHOWS. Tell me one old-TV remake that has ever spawned asequel (which Hollywood is always sure to do when something is a success)-- only THE BRADY BUNCH...point proven?)